There’s a Chinese proverb that says that, “there is a good dog and a bad dog fighting within each of us. The one that is going to win is the one we feed the most”. At times, each of us experiences thoughts, feelings and emotions that we would rather not have. Sometimes we become so preoccupied with the unwanted thoughts or feelings that we become consumed with it. When this happens, our focus is diverted from our goals and our energy is instead used to fuel our fears.
Those things that we place our time, energy and focus into will grow. If we give in to our worries, we allow all of our resources to feed our fears. Fear is an emotion that requires an enormous amount of energy to sustain and to resist. Both the body and the mind are affected when fear or anxiety take over. When faced with a perceived danger your body constricts, your muscles tighten and your breathing becomes shallow and rapid. Your body and your mind are working separately and it can take a lot of effort to reconnect with your body. When you disconnect from your body, it can be easy to become trapped in thoughts of panic. When both your mind and body are holding onto fear, you are focusing your energy on resisting that which you fear.
Anxiety triggers your mind to focus on all the worst possible scenarios. With all these thoughts of panic running through your mind, it becomes very difficult to make a focused and rational decision. When you live with fear and trepidation, especially about a particular thing, person, or event, the subconscious mind processes what is in the conscious mind and actually makes it manifest. Whatever you’re wary of, and vigilant for, whatever it is that you’re worried about, it becomes all that you see, all that you feel and you end up attracting more and more of it.
I know that few people would deliberately choose to bring about whatever they’re afraid of, but because what we focus on grows, worrying is like praying for what you don’t want. Not only will you manifest your fear, but you will attract what you resist in life in proportion to the focus and energy that you give it. If you want to achieve your dreams and desires, you need to be putting your thoughts and efforts into what you do want instead of what you don’t want. Your primary thoughts will shape and create your destiny.
Humans are blessed with foresight and the ability to think ahead. It’s what allows us to dream, to plan and to bring about a fulfilling future. But it can also support a tendency to focus on and worry about the “what if …” If you find yourself overcome by fear or anxiety, you need to reconnect with your body. With all the thoughts racing through your head you’re probably not breathing adequately. Focus on your breath. Gently and fully inhale through your nose, feel your chest expand as the air fills your lungs and slowly exhale through your mouth. Feel the ease that flows through your body as you become aware of the natural rhythm of your breath. Now pay attention to where you are holding onto tension in your body. Are there muscles that feel tight, contracted or stiff? Slowly, bring your attention and your breath into these areas. Feel the muscle start to lengthen as you direct your breath and attention to it. Feel the loosening of the muscle with each focused breath. As you start to enhance your connection with your body, notice how your energy is also expanding.
Once you have established a connection with your body, you will be better able to focus your thoughts on the things that you do want to bring into your life. At BodyMind Wellness Studio, NeuroStructural Optimization addresses the nervous system to allow the body to better communicate with the brain. When the body is better able to interpret and adapt to the current circumstance, a greater sense of awareness is attained. This awareness allows you to see and feel where your energy goes, or is not going. With increasing awareness, you are in a better position to direct your focus and energy into creation and healing.
“Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” – Erma Bombeck
Copyright 2019 Dr. Julie Doobay
